- Ford is adding an app-based feature that prevents thieves from starting an F-Series pickup
- The Vehicle Start Inhibit feature won’t allow the truck to start, even with the key
- In the U.S., Ford will also pay up to US$2,500 of deductible if an equipped truck is stolen
More than a million vehicles were stolen in the U.S. in 2022 and 2023, and Ford is trying to do something about it. The automaker is expanding its subscription-based Ford Security Package on its F-Series pickups to include a feature called Vehicle Start Inhibit that prevents the truck from being started by a thief. The feature will be offered by Ford in Canada and the U.S.
Along with that, owners in the U.S. will be eligible for a reimbursement of up to US$2,500 to cover a deductible if someone does manage to make off the truck, or if it’s recovered with damage. That won’t be offered in Canada due to differences in insurance regulations between the two countries.
In Canada, the Ford Security Package is included with every 2024 and 2025 F-Series pickup as a one-year complimentary trial from the initial warranty start date (it was introduced on the 2024 F-150, and isn’t retroactive to older trucks). After that, it can be renewed for $9.99 per month. The package already includes theft and tampering alerts, and the Start Inhibit will now be included. For those who already own qualifying trucks with a trial or paid subscription, the Start Inhibit will be added as an over-the-air update.
When activated by the owner, Start Inhibit can prevent the vehicle from starting, even if the person trying to do so has the key. When it’s required, owners initiate the feature through their FordPass app.
The FordPass app allows owners to perform several functions through their phones, including remotely starting, stopping, locking, or unlocking it; locating the vehicle; and checking the vehicle’s “health” through its diagnostics. It also includes a stolen-vehicle service that lets Ford’s agents track the vehicle through GPS and provide that information to police.
The automaker’s goal is to “one day build an ‘unstealable’ vehicle,” according to Christian Moran, general manager of Ford’s Safety and Security Services in the U.S. The company researched theft methods and patterns to develop the new technology. “Thieves are using increasingly sophisticated methods to steal vehicles, and it’s important that our system simultaneously introduces physical, electronic, and communication-based barriers to a thief’s success,” Moran said. Ford indicated the Security Package will expand beyond the F-Series pickup to other vehicles in future model years.
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